I've listened to a fair bit of Nile, I quite enjoyed Annihilation of the wicked as well as some of your other work, I found it had a lot more depth to it from a musical stand-point then most death metal, you were playing fast but I could hear technique to it.

One question I have which you may not get asked all the time is about achieving high foot speed with a single peddle.

Do you believe it is essential for fast kicks that you utilize a double-kick pedal or can you reach some fairly impressive speeds with a single foot?

I noticed you said the right foot often leads, how essential is it to have the left foot complimenting it?

The reason I ask is because some friends have been showing me a lot of metal drummers who do bass kick fills and they believe it will fit the dynamics of a couple of songs but I'm quite unwilling to move my high hat away from the snare, I like having it close and I like the ability to clap it and create different sounds with pressure on the high hat pedal.

My foot technique is very similar to my hand technique, almost the same thing actually.
As a right handed drummer it is like:
Right Foot=Leading Foot
Left Foot=Slave Foot
Everything starts with the right foot, the right foot get's in and out of the beat, sets starting points, balance in between and stops.And no matter how fast the leading foot will go, my left will always follow. This is why i advice drummers to NOT train their left foot THAT much. You need to have a leading foot, otherwise both will want to lead and you will end up in flams...i saw that happening many times to my students.

As for speed, double bass is different. Different world...
Yes you can play fast with one foot, possibly 16ths up to 140bpm or more but why push it that much when you can go with 2 kicks?
It all depends on the style you play, i never use 2 kicks outside metal.I try to focus on other areas.

I have a question concerning pedal work and thought you'd be the right to ask.

I am currently not using double bass due to the fact that its inconvient for me atm. So i've made the best of it and since my favorite band is Led Zeppelin i've been practicing my double kicks and foot a lot in general in order to jam along with Bonzo. But after a talk about a more experienced friend about pedal technique he explained that most of the better drummers in the field use heel-down only due to it being more healthy and efficient at a higher level. So i came home and watched some of your vidoes yet agian and saw that you played heel-down all the time.

I've only been playing for little less than a year but im very active and i drum as much as i can everyday which means around an hour if im lucky and i would like to be able to use my foot effectively while drumming for quite sometime. So my question is: Is Heel-down superior?

Sorry for the lack of puncutation and commas.

Regards Victor

I don't play heel down, i am still a heel up player but my heels are staying close to the board and it might "look" like heel down.

Both ways, Hell down and Heel up have different benefits.

Heel down:
Great balance
Speed (cause your ankle is not "locked")

Heel up:
Power
Control

and so on....

The thing is, as most Death Metal drummers, i play heel up but staying very low on the board, so will be something in between those 2 techniques. If you play either way, and you try to go beyond your maximum speed you will see your body will ask you to use the same technique that i use.
So basically what i am doing is not a "special" technique but the most natural way to play fast stuff. This is a result of playing fast music for years and pushing beyond the limits, it came very naturally and of course it took time....but now i know what's up and this is what i am teaching out there, saying exactly what's going on.
Will that get people to my speed sooner than it took to me? Of course...but people don;t really think a very important factor which is the main thing in fast music.
FEEL what you play.....
Extreme metal requires a lot of soul....you just have to go for it....

Look at Buddy Rich, people saying this guy was all DNA and it was very natural for him to play super fast. Yes and No...Means, of course a part of it will be dna, i mean it was his muscle structure and all but.....on the other hand, he was pushing it day after day and night after night....

Was just watching Intense Metal Drumming again, felt like bumping the thread 'cause George kicks ass.

I've discovered one big problem I'm having with single foot blast practice: at certain speeds my power just collapses. I don't "tap", more like the opposite. The beater has a lot of motion, but it doesn't hit the drum head very hard at all. It's really messing me up.

Here's a small tip.

Play any double bass pattern, find the tempo that messes you up and stay there to solve this. Play the same pattern by taking your left foot out, so if you were playing 16ths you will be asked to play 8th notes, single foot only.
This is how we train our LEAD side on how to LEAD.
If you solve this then the left will follow with no problems.

Also, make sure there is a lot of spacing in between. It's more effective if you switch from a back beat to double bass patterns than just stay on the db pattern for long periods. Getting IN and OUT is more important than keeping the pattern for 10 minutes for example...

George, I think your drum compositions are very musical and a-typical for metal drumming. Keep at it. :)

Thanks man.
Trying to play what's best for the music, sometimes i go with overplaying but usually i do ok, ha ha ha. If you could only hear some of the new Nile album's demos we did, there was so much crazy stuff in there....

I watched your dvd and I noticed you're a multi-instrumentalist. I'm a drummer of 12 years, currently learning guitar.

How did you balance practicing your instruments?

What carried over from playing the drums to playing the guitar?

Also, the dvd is great.

I started with guitar 22 or so years ago.
I am a drummer but i could play guitar for a band, play a little bass and keys....You know, just enough so i can sit down and write my own music.I never practice anything else than drums, but i play alot.....so that actually balances things.

Hi George, how did you get your bass drums speed that fast, your playing rocks

thanks a lot man,
speed is something that comes only with pushing,i happen to play Thrash/Death Metal so there you go...i had to play fast anyways...
Then, getting into the more extreme metal drumming things are getting complicated, you definitely need to play a lot and also understand what you do there, we are the ones to improve our technique, all books and DVDs are adding something you ALREADY know....you know what i mean?
But like i said, the more you believe into something and you do it a lot you always get results. I wanted to play fast, i liked fast music so that's it.

As far as exercises and workouts go, i am about to post some great ones on my website, there will be on in about a week since we are updating the whole site. Simple and effective ones...please give them a chance!

george kollias! as long as you're here i want to say i'm a great admirer of your playing! not only do you play super fast, but you do it with a very relaxed style. to me that's a mark of a great drummer, or any musician really.

george kollias! as long as you're here i want to say i'm a great admirer of your playing! not only do you play super fast, but you do it with a very relaxed style. to me that's a mark of a great drummer, or any musician really.

Thanks so much man, i appreciate your kind words and all your guys welcome in this great Forum!

Hey George! I love your drumming :) I can honestly say you are one of my favorite drummers. Your speed and precision is incredible, and your fills, accents and style is impeccable and fills the appetite with drumming delicacy :P I've only heard your work with Nile, and am embarrassed to say I only had one album (and then lent it to someone/lost it, can't remember :/), but, simply, you kick ass.

Hey George, i assume you're in Bombay ( Mumbai ) right now for PALM EXPO. I really wish i could have been there to watch you in action. But right now i'm sitting studying for my final tomorrow :P How's India treating you? I hope you have the time to catch some live music in India. I'd really recommend Shaa'ir and Func. http://www.facebook.com/shaairandfunc

Hey George, great to see you on here! I have become a huge fan of Nile in the last few months (never thought I'd ever get into death metal!). Your drumming is very inspirational to me, and gives me some well needed inspiration to keep pushing my personal boundaries! :)

Hey everyone,
i would like to share some info about my Signature Stick that's coming out from Vic Firth in a few days. Took us 7-8 months to develop this stick, it's very close to the 55A but the barrel tip makes a big difference and feels more comfortable for speed. This is is super durable and you can really play anything with it!

I'm still no extreme metal fan (yet) and not long into drums but let me say this:
Your drumming is... awesome! It's pure fun watching you play. Your video (snippet from your DVD) where you're speeding up from 200 to 280 bpm is just ultra, simply inhumane.

Also great to see you're participating in this forum and take the time to answer 'normal people's' questions, haha.

It's all in the music man, really glad you enjoy it!...

We are actually filming my new DVD right now which will be much better than the first one in every aspect. It's a little more advanced than the first one but still always around the player and the music. Some crazy funk stuff will be added in there......coming out soon! :-)

George,
I've just received your DVD... Wow, that one is serious! I'm wondering what there is to be improved compared to your 1st one ;-) Looking forward to your 2nd DVD (although this stuff is way too advanced for me, but hey there's so many cool tips, concepts and just jaw dropping chops on it I simply had to get it). Thanks for sharing your knowledge and doing this in a structured way!

Apisteuto! (8a allaskw sta agglika twra) That you're actually on the forum. Big fan of yours and I actually served my military service in Greece (last year) with a student of yours. He had only the best to say about you... and mentioned that you were quite the 'latin drummer'. So just wondering when the Kollias latin-beats dvd/cd is coming out... ;-) Horacio 'el negro' who???

A drummer myself, I use to run around gigging and recording when I was younger (thrash/speed/hardcore) then I started opening my mind to jazz/latin/funk/progressive and now just play Greek festivals, weddings and baptisms here in the states as a side-job. I'd actually play for free ( mono yia ligw tsipouro k psari ;-) ) as I still enjoy playing the drums after all these years and watching/learning from artists like yourself just motivate me to spend as much time as I can playing,practicing and growing.

Listening to you play, I can't help to think that maybe traditional Greek music has had an influence on you, as pertains to some of the odd time signatures.. 5's, 7's, and 9's. Am I right? Did you ever play 'laiki musiki' growing up or even maybe studio work with any Greek artists?

I just want to say Thank You. For the way you've conducted yourself as an artist and as a citizen of Greece. We need all the ambassadors to represent a positive image of our people and country, especially in these trying times.

We are actually filming my new DVD right now which will be much better than the first one in every aspect. It's a little more advanced than the first one but still always around the player and the music. Some crazy funk stuff will be added in there......coming out soon! :-)

Sweet, I didn't know you had another DVD in the works! Is there any sort of estimate for when I could get my hands on a copy? Perhaps a pre-order or something?

George,
I've just received your DVD... Wow, that one is serious! I'm wondering what there is to be improved compared to your 1st one ;-) Looking forward to your 2nd DVD (although this stuff is way too advanced for me, but hey there's so many cool tips, concepts and just jaw dropping chops on it I simply had to get it). Thanks for sharing your knowledge and doing this in a structured way!

Thanks man, i appreciate it!
The new DVD is way better, better quality and sound, more cameras and a very professional crew behind it so it's coming out killer....! Really looking forward to release this and share it with all, stay tuned!

Apisteuto! (8a allaskw sta agglika twra) That you're actually on the forum. Big fan of yours and I actually served my military service in Greece (last year) with a student of yours. He had only the best to say about you... and mentioned that you were quite the 'latin drummer'. So just wondering when the Kollias latin-beats dvd/cd is coming out... ;-) Horacio 'el negro' who???

A drummer myself, I use to run around gigging and recording when I was younger (thrash/speed/hardcore) then I started opening my mind to jazz/latin/funk/progressive and now just play Greek festivals, weddings and baptisms here in the states as a side-job. I'd actually play for free ( mono yia ligw tsipouro k psari ;-) ) as I still enjoy playing the drums after all these years and watching/learning from artists like yourself just motivate me to spend as much time as I can playing,practicing and growing.

Listening to you play, I can't help to think that maybe traditional Greek music has had an influence on you, as pertains to some of the odd time signatures.. 5's, 7's, and 9's. Am I right? Did you ever play 'laiki musiki' growing up or even maybe studio work with any Greek artists?

I just want to say Thank You. For the way you've conducted yourself as an artist and as a citizen of Greece. We need all the ambassadors to represent a positive image of our people and country, especially in these trying times.

Xairetismata!
-Anastasios

Cheers brother, thanks so much for your kind words!
We are going on tour in the States next week, hope we catch up on a show, would be killer!

And stay where you are, situation in Greece is very bad now so you are good there, ha ha ha

Just sharing some news with everyone,
there is a first teaser of my DVD online and a 2-part interview (in Greek with English subtitles) from YouGroove that you might find interesting, hope you enjoy them all!
thanks everyone!

I have been watching your videos and have to say you look like your playing in fast motion even though I know its normal speed. Do you ever get tendinitis in your elbows, knees or anywhere else? or hell does your feet ever just fly off? lol. Anyway just wondering what kinds of physical problems you have experienced playing at such break-neck speeds? Love your drumming BTW

Hey man, got to say that I was never a fan of any metal music/drumming, but after watching you at the london drum show my opinion has been completely changed. Killer drumming dude and I hope to see more in the future (even if my hearing takes a bashing) :)

Loving the new album! This is going to be on my iTunes for a while I reckon!

While I can't imagine it's been planned yet, do you know when/if a UK tour for the album is likely to take place? I had a ticket for the Cardiff show for 'Those Whom The Gods Detest' but missed it due to illness.....devastated.

So I've watched a lot of your Drum Clinic/Tutorial videos on YouTube. You mentioned playing with a tight spring tension. Now I'm curious, I also play with a tight spring tension, but if you were to mark your double pedal's (Pear Eliminators) tightening nuts with a permanent marker and tighten it, how much turns (360) will you normally give the nut?

Thanks.

P.S. I normally go on the "feel" of the spring tension, but I've noticed a lot of drummers saying "tight" spring tension, but I'm not sure how tight they mean precisely, that's why I'm asking. :P

Hi George, as many have said I'm a huge fan of your playing - I never used to really appreciate really hardcore metal stuff until I realised just how much passion and soul really goes into it, so you've made me a fan. :) Now I'm trying to learn how to do it all myself hah.

I tried to follow your 16 week workout a few weeks ago, as I got my first double pedal in february this year, but I simply can't hit 80bpm 32nds/160bpm 16ths yet. Is it still a good idea for me to do the workout at slightly slower tempos, or are they at those tempos for a very specific reason?

Also, do you have any experience with running? I went for a long run today and my legs are feeling tired and tight, so I'm stretching them like mad but trying to do any kind of double bass is an absolute chore at the moment.

Hi George, as many have said I'm a huge fan of your playing - I never used to really appreciate really hardcore metal stuff until I realised just how much passion and soul really goes into it, so you've made me a fan. :) Now I'm trying to learn how to do it all myself hah.

I tried to follow your 16 week workout a few weeks ago, as I got my first double pedal in february this year, but I simply can't hit 80bpm 32nds/160bpm 16ths yet. Is it still a good idea for me to do the workout at slightly slower tempos, or are they at those tempos for a very specific reason?

Also, do you have any experience with running? I went for a long run today and my legs are feeling tired and tight, so I'm stretching them like mad but trying to do any kind of double bass is an absolute chore at the moment.

Thanks you very much!

Hey man,
thanks for your kind words.

First, YOU CAN hit 32nd notes at 80bpm...i'm sure you can. These exercises start with 32nds for one beat so everybody can, then after you get into it you hold it for 2 beats, then 3 and so on, like the exercises go. So just go for it, this is the most important thing about speed: If you wanna play fast, you need to sit down and play fast! It will take some time depending on what you're shooting for but i promise you it will come!

The 16-week workout will give you a lot of control and get you in the flying motion (like we call it). It's mostly about control than speed, but we know if you improve your control speed improves also in no time...

I was running when i was younger and played a lot of soccer, but left both (thanks to drums). I know running is not good for your knees, every doctor will tell you that as well so if you wanna exercise a little safer maybe try walking or bicycle? These work great too...

As far as stretching, it is the best thing you can do to yourself as a drummer or whatever. This is the KEY to not hurt yourself and it's what i do especially on the road...

So I've watched a lot of your Drum Clinic/Tutorial videos on YouTube. You mentioned playing with a tight spring tension. Now I'm curious, I also play with a tight spring tension, but if you were to mark your double pedal's (Pear Eliminators) tightening nuts with a permanent marker and tighten it, how much turns (360) will you normally give the nut?

Thanks.

P.S. I normally go on the "feel" of the spring tension, but I've noticed a lot of drummers saying "tight" spring tension, but I'm not sure how tight they mean precisely, that's why I'm asking. :P

I use tight springs on my Axis, remember Axis have heavy duty springs which makes the pedal twice hard to push down....they are really tight. The reason i do that is cause, when i am getting ready to play (lift my ankle to hit the bass drum), the beater doesn't land on the bass drum head but holds me up on the firing position (i call it like that).
So, basically holds you "up there" when you have both ankles up and getting ready to play a fast pattern. That's it.

I also have Eliminators, great pedals. I play those tight as well but the difference with Axis is like day and night, i mean Axis springs are way more tight.

Any spring tighten more than half way goes to the "tight area", although when i get any pedal out of the box i tight the nut all the way up. So 100%.

Loving the new album! This is going to be on my iTunes for a while I reckon!

While I can't imagine it's been planned yet, do you know when/if a UK tour for the album is likely to take place? I had a ticket for the Cardiff show for 'Those Whom The Gods Detest' but missed it due to illness.....devastated.

I'm pretty sure we're coming there with Kreator and Morbid Angel in Oct.-Nov.
DO NOT MISS IT, this will be a BLAST!!!!! I'm actually so looking forward for that tour!!!!!!

you bass drums technique is AMAZING, so much speed, so munch control and it's freaky to see you heel fly from side to side, GREAT!

Thank You, vfujidrums

Thanks so much...
the only reason i wanted to play fast and still playing fast is the Music itself...to be honest, i think the whole thing is in the music. I can't imagine myself sitting down and playing fast for hours for no reason.....

Hey man, got to say that I was never a fan of any metal music/drumming, but after watching you at the london drum show my opinion has been completely changed. Killer drumming dude and I hope to see more in the future (even if my hearing takes a bashing) :)

What a killer Festival man....i had a blast!
You guys are lucky to be able to see such a festival every year!

I have been watching your videos and have to say you look like your playing in fast motion even though I know its normal speed. Do you ever get tendinitis in your elbows, knees or anywhere else? or hell does your feet ever just fly off? lol. Anyway just wondering what kinds of physical problems you have experienced playing at such break-neck speeds? Love your drumming BTW

hahaha
thanks man...

Playing extreme music might give you some injuries here and there, i guess that differs from drummer to drummer. Some minor problems i had was in my legs (different places each time) until i promised myself to stretch every time before the show.....that was it.....

There are 2 things you HAVE to do for your body, especially if you are a drummer:
-Drink a lot of water
-Stretch

Do yourself a favour and -no matter what music you play- make sure you follow these 2 things as much as you can!